Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami on Wednesday unveiled a 41-point election manifesto ahead of the February 12 polls, promising greater representation for women in government along with wide-ranging reforms in the justice system and economy.
Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman announced the manifesto, which commits to appointing a “significant number of women” to the cabinet if the party comes to power, even though it has not fielded any female candidates in the election.
“The cabinet will reflect the diversity of the nation by ensuring representation of religious and ethnic communities and other historically under-represented sections of society,” the manifesto said.
The party also pledged to ensure a safe and dignified working environment for women. It proposed reducing working hours for women during maternity to five hours a day, subject to the mother’s consent.
The announcement comes days after a screenshot of a post related to women was circulated from Rahman’s verified X account. The post was later deleted, with the party claiming the account had been hacked.
On the economic front, Jamaat said it aims to transform Bangladesh into a USD 2 trillion economy by 2040 and raise per capita income to USD 10,000.
As of early 2026, Bangladesh’s economy is estimated at around USD 475 billion in nominal terms, while its purchasing power parity (PPP) value stands at approximately USD 1.78 trillion. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, per capita income in 2026 is about USD 2,820.
The political landscape has shifted following the violent uprising that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), now led by Tarique Rahman after the death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia in December, has emerged as the frontrunner.
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With the Awami League disbanded by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, Jamaat-e-Islami has positioned itself as BNP’s main rival.
The BNP is yet to release its election manifesto for the polls, which are expected to bring an end to the unscheduled tenure of the Yunus-led interim government.
